Bit of a dust-up over EU legislation against powerful vacuums

Consumers who like a powerful vacuum cleaner have been urged to buy one now before new energy rules that restrict motor sizes come into effect next month.

A new EU energy label to be introduced from September 1 means manufacturers will not be able to make or import vacuum cleaners with a motor that exceeds 1,600 watts.

The Which? consumer group said many of its Best Buy models have motor sizes that exceed this, "so if you're in the market for a powerful vacuum, you should act quickly, before all of the models currently available sell out". Of seven awarded Best Buy status since January 2013, five have motors of more than 1,600 watts, it said.

The maximum wattage will be lowered even further to 900 watts by 2017. Current cleaners boast an average of 1,800 watts.

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But the scheme is self-regulating, meaning that manufacturers will create their own labels, and Which? said it was unclear if the results were being corroborated by an independent third party.

It also pointed out that vacuums would be tested when brand new, unlike Which's own testing that took into account loss of suction as the container fills.

Sir James Dyson, whose Wiltshire company pioneered 'bagless' vacuums, said he believed the label itself was a good idea, pointing out that he had never made a machine over 1,600 watts.

But he said there were many engineering aspects other than the size of the machine to take into account, and he feared strong performing vacuum cleaners would be rated badly and lead the consumer to buy a machine which simply did not work efficiently. He said: "Efficient technology isn't the result of an energy label, it's the result of costly research and development.

"Since I ripped the bag from my Hoover Junior and did away with the need for environmentally costly consumables, the approach has always been the same - develop high performing technology that uses less material, less energy and has no hidden costs."

The European Commission believes the new regulations will mean better vacuum cleaners for consumers.